The Nintendo Switch is a very good idea, and it is actually somewhat surprising that so few companies have tried to emulate Nintendo's formula. Sure, you can stream Xbox games to your phone or PS5 games to your computer, but seamlessly transforming a handheld gaming device into a TV accessory is a bit different. [But all that could change thanks to Qualcomm's new handheld gaming console (which looks like a Switch but runs on Android).

The information comes from Android Police, a reputable news and review site dedicated to Google's ubiquitous OS. The site's editor-in-chief, David Ruddock, quotes "sources familiar with [Qualcomm's] corporate strategy."

While the site's pedigree does not absolutely guarantee the authenticity of the report, it does help lend credence to the idea, as does Ruddock's specific discussion of potential handheld features.

First and foremost, Qualcomm's handheld system will run on the company's powerful Snapdragon processor. In fact, the console will be about the same size as the Switch, allowing the company to use larger and more powerful components at its disposal than a smartphone. It will also have a 6,000 mAh battery, but the exact battery life will depend on the games played, settings, and a variety of other factors. It will also have a detachable controller, like the Switch's Joy-Con. The overall price of the device will probably be around $300.

More importantly, Qualcomm's handheld system will be able to output signals to an HDTV like the Switch. It is unclear whether this will be done through a dock, a cable, or one or the other. The connection in question could be miniHDMI or USB-C, which does double duty as charging and display.

One major difference between Qualcomm's console and the Switch is that it runs on the Android OS rather than Nintendo's restrictive interface. Unless Qualcomm plans to implement a special UI (which is possible, but seems unlikely), users could use the device as a game console, streaming media player, web browser, or even a productivity accessory. In theory, it would be much more multifunctional than the Switch.

On the other hand, the game library may differ from what Nintendo fans are used to. For the most part, Android games are not long and involved experiences, and few games have renowned developers like Nintendo behind them; through services like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming (in beta), a variety of excellent PC games While admittedly capable of streaming, these rely on a strong Internet connection and have limited utility on the go.

Still, there is always the potential for bespoke gaming hardware to offer more dedicated games on Android. Furthermore, Android Police reports that Qualcomm does not want to disqualify the Switch. Rather, it wants to see how gamers will embrace a device that falls somewhere between a "smartphone" and a "dedicated console."

Once the development of this device is complete, it should be available in early 2022. By then, who knows what else Nintendo will have announced.